Dizzy Gillespie doing gymnastics on the carpet of the Montreux Palace. The photo from 1975 is the cover of a book on jazz, rock and popular music greats that has never been published before. It is about the history of the Montreux Jazz Festival. Experiences, episodes, anecdotes, told by the protagonists and luminaries of this event themselves.
62 big names, including Sting, Angélique Kidjo, George Clinton, Nile Rodgers, Gilberto Gil and Wayne Shorter, describe what connects them to Montreux, what they experienced there and with the festival founder Claude Nobs, who died in 2013. The "usual suspects" of the Montreux family have also made their contribution, namely Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau and Deep Purple. Legends who will also be performing live again this year at the anniversary festival.
50 years of the Montreux Jazz Festival come alive
Even the hitherto silent German original electro band Kraftwerk will be contributing lyrics for the first time in their 46-year career. Quincy Jones reveals piquant facts about the founder in his contribution entitled: "Claude Nobs loved to strip."
In this way, 50 years of Montreux and its deceased greats such as James Brown, Prince and Miles Davis are brought back to life - and it becomes clear how much the festival means to all those who still enjoy performing there today.
Even festival director Mathieu Jaton, who has been working for the event since 1999, says: "This book has taught me what the Montreux Jazz Festival is really all about."
"50 Summers of Music" is also a photo book. In 175 pictures, we see stars and legends at their performances, but also experience them in very intimate moments: Leonard Cohen in a handstand, Quincy Jones in a glider, David Bowie skiing, Nina Hagen in her wildest punk outfit, Claude Nobs swimming with music mogul Ahmet Ertegün.
There is no more beautiful and lively way to honor 50 years of the Montreux Jazz Festival in printed form.
"50 Summers of Music" is published in French and English by Editions textuel and costs 69 francs.
